Thread by @VinceSchilling

Should we celebrate #Thanksgiving?

As a Native American journalist, author and speaker, I have been asked this question so many times this year.

Here are my thoughts and responses regarding this holiday.

Let me first say it is possible to both celebrate as well as remember.

First - the history re: #Thanksgiving

In 1621, Pilgrims celebrated a feast w/Wampanaog men, but it was not repeated in the years to follow. In 1636, a murdered white man was found in a boat & the Pequot were blamed. In retaliation, settlers burned Pequot villages. 100's died

English Major John Mason rallied his troops to burn Pequot wigwams and attacked and killed hundreds of men, women and children.

They were blamed for a murder they did not commit - and were burned to death.

Mason’s reports of the Pequot massacre:

“We must burn them! Such a dreadful terror let the Almighty fall upon their spirits that they would flee from us and run into the very flames. Thus did the Lord judge the heathen, filling the place with dead bodies.”

Plymouth Governor William Bradford wrote: “Those that escaped the fire were slain with the sword; some hewed to pieces, others run through with their rapiers, so that they were quickly dispatched and very few escaped. It was a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire..."

Plymouth Governor William Bradford (cont.)

"...horrible was the stink and scent thereof, but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice, and they gave the prayers thereof to God, who had wrought so wonderfully for them.”

(Then #Thanksgiving began annually with his next statement.)

Mass. Bay Colony Gov Winthrop:

“From that day forth shall be a day of celebration and thanks giving for subduing the Pequots. For the next 100 years, every #Thanksgiving Day ordained by a Governor was in honor of the bloody victory, thanking God that the battle had been won."

This said, my wife @DelSchilling and I choose not to celebrate Thanksgiving. But I do not ask others not to celebrate - I encourage focusing on a day of thanks, spending time with families and sharing fortunate bounties. I would like to ask you to remember a tragic history.

I ask everyone to celebrate a reason to be thankful & remember the difficulties of our shared histories & struggles. This #Thanksgiving, I will pause to think of my family, and the Pequot people as well as all of you. It is good to know our histories, thus learn to do better.

I am also encouraging you to think of all living creatures, all aspects of our mother earth, all elements that give us life or help to make our lives more beautiful. Enjoy all that the creator has given us. We are blessed and it is good to give thanks.

This said, my wife @DelSchilling and I choose not to celebrate Thanksgiving. But I do not ask others not to celebrate - I encourage focusing on a day of thanks, spending time with families and sharing fortunate bounties. I would like to ask you to remember a tragic history.

I am also encouraging you to think of all living creatures, all aspects of our mother earth, all elements that give us life or help to make our lives more beautiful. Enjoy all that the creator has given us. We are blessed and it is good to give thanks.

I ask everyone to celebrate a reason to be thankful & remember the difficulties of our shared histories & struggles. This #Thanksgiving, I will pause to think of my family, and the Pequot people as well as all of you. It is good to know our histories, thus learn to do better.

My short answer overall: Yes ... Celebrate a time to be thankful, with friends, with family, and with loved ones. But don't celebrate a false history, created just because you couldn't be trusted with the truth. You are smarter than historians gave you credit for.